September 15, 2020 Trump says he had 'a shot' to take out Syria's Assad, but ex-Defense chief Mattis opposed it President Trump on Tuesday said he had “a shot” to take out Syrian President Bashar al-Assad but didn’t take it because then-Defense Secretary James Mattis opposed the plan.
September 11, 2020 Defense Secretary Esper: Since Sept. 11 attacks, our heroic military has successfully fought terrorism We have dealt devastating blows to Al Qaeda and other terrorist groups around the world by eliminating key leaders, cutting off resources, and crippling their attempts to orchestrate future attacks.
August 26, 2020 Maine Republican Bill Cohen endorses Democrat Joe Biden for president Bill Cohen, a Republican who spent more than three decades representing Maine in Congress before becoming secretary of defense during former President Bill Clinton’s second term, has endorsed Joe Biden for president.
August 22, 2020 Pentagon: Use of surveillance planes in protests was legal The use of National Guard reconnaissance planes in four U.S. cities to monitor the widespread protests earlier this year didn't violate rules against the military collecting intelligence on Americans, a Pentagon report has concluded.
August 9, 2020 Esper on aid to Lebanon after deadly Beirut blast: US doing 'everything we can' The U.S. government will do everything it can to help the Lebanese people in the wake of Tuesday's massive explosion at a port in Beirut that killed more than 100 people and wounded thousands, Defense Secretary Mark Esper said Saturday night.
August 8, 2020 Esper pays tribute to 9 service members killed in training accident All nine service members killed when a Marine landing craft sank in hundreds of feet of water off the California coast last week during a training exercise have been identified, military officials announced on Monday.
August 8, 2020 Remains of 7 Marines, 1 sailor recovered off California after training mishap The remains of seven U.S. Marines and one U.S. Navy sailor – who went missing July 30 after a training mishap off the coast of California – have been recovered, Marine Corps officials said Friday night.
August 5, 2020 Trump says Italy and Belgium are next ‘delinquents’ to pony up defense spending for NATO President Trump told Fox and Friends anchor Brian Kilmeade Wednesday that the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) was “a disaster” and that he got countries to pay $130 billion a year more.
August 5, 2020 Defense Secretary Esper contradicts Trump on Beirut tragedy: 'Most believe it was an accident' The massive explosion that tore through Beirut killed at least 135 people and left some 300,000 homeless
August 3, 2020 Cruz accuses Pentagon of 'culture of hostility towards religion' after Christian Air Force vet's talk canceled Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, accused the Defense Department of "religious discrimination" Monday in a strongly-worded letter that pressed Defense Secretary Mark Esper on how his department planned to address "its culture of hostility towards religion."